The Chinese military has conducted simulations of an attack on Taiwan, Chinese state media reported. According to reports, soldiers from the People's Army conducted exercises to impose an air blockade. As part of this exercise, Chinese bombers flew into Taiwan's airspace.
Taiwan: This is an attempt at intimidation
There has been no official statement from China, while Taiwan's Ministry of Defense has described the state media reports as propaganda that serves to "intimidation". "We call on our citizens to stand united in the face of such intelligence operations, to uphold freedom and democracy, and to defend our homeland together", the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense urged.
China considers the island part of its People's Republic and has threatened to conquer it since 1949, when the communists expelled the nationalists from the "Kuomindang" on the island. The Chinese Communist Party uses the unification of China with Taiwan as a pillar of its propaganda. Taipei, for its part, rejects China's claims.
Days before the meeting between Trump and Xi
The timing of the current provocations, in which Chinese H-6K bombers flew near Taiwan, is hardly coincidental. In a few days, Donald Trump is due to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping. Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan as a country, but supports it militarily and politically. Although the United States does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it has pledged to support the country's defense capabilities.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet in South Korea in a few days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already assured that Taiwan should not be concerned about these talks.